To the best of my recollection, I’ve been doing some version of this “speedlink” series for well over a decade at this point. It started out as — and mostly continues to be — a way for me to give back to the blogging community that has given me so much. But, in more recent years, the scope of “online content” and the online “content creator” has expanded greatly. That’s why I’ve done roundups of podcasts and YouTube videos too. This month’s go around the web includes a bit more “traditional” media and I think that’s okay. Good content is good content. It’s about building connections, asking good questions, and telling compelling stories. Enjoy!

We start off with the wit and wisdom of Tom Greene. He explores an archetype that’s becoming more and more common in modern society: the friendless American male. He points out that decades of data on social isolation indicate that “adult, white, heterosexual men have the fewest friends of all people in America.” Broadly speaking, adult men generally have a harder time forming and maintaining friendships than their female counterparts. This is a big part of the reason why I value our little #5DadsGoWild group so much.

As much as we might chase fame or fortune or outward displays of wealth, these can often feel empty. And as ironic or counterintuitive as it may sound, trying to be happy might be making you miserable. That’s what John P. Weiss asserts in his Medium article. Part of this is because comparison is the thief of joy, particularly in the age of social media and the work that goes into building your following. The other part is that chasing happiness diminishes the reason why something might have made you happy in the first place.

Speaking of fame, fortune and success, Kim’s Convenience’s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“Appa”) recently spoke with Shree Paradkar of the Toronto Star. More specifically, they discussed the tremendous burden for shows like Kim’s Convenience, because they don’t have the “privilege of failure.” He explains that “if you are a white actor and you’re given a dream part and you aren’t so good in it, you are given another opportunity to be another part.” By contrast, “sometimes you only get one shot because of the colour of your skin.”

Culture is a fascinating thing, especially when you start to explore the intersectionality of culture across generations and countries. When I read what Christopher Cheung of The Tyee had to say about his experience with bubble tea, it really resonated with me. In his words, for Canadian-born kids like us, “bubble tea shops were also culturally refreshing, existing outside of the white mainstream and the kitschy Chinatowns that gave us the impression we came from some ancient civilization.” These shops gave us a place where we could make connections and felt like we truly belonged.

And finally, you know my friend and fellow dad blogger James R.C. Smith? Well, he forgot to fill his buckets again. We get so caught up in our day-to-day responsibilities that we forget to take care of ourselves. We forget to fill our vessels with “hobbies, self-care, and things that make us feel contented.” Filling our buckets can mean different things for different people. James loves getting outdoors. I like curling up with a good book. As cliche as it sounds, you cannot serve from an empty cup. Remember to take care of yourself, so you can take better care of those you love.